Leisure fee rises below inflation

Published: 3 December, 2010
by TERRY MESSENGER

THE cost of using council-run leisure centres in Islington will fall in real terms next year – despite the borough’s severe cash crisis.

Charges are set to rise by just 3.4 per cent, compared to an inflation rate of 4.3 per cent.

Labour council leader Councillor Catherine West said: “We’ve kept the increase in leisure fees and charges at less than inflation because we feel health inequalities in Islington are so great we’ve got to encourage people to keep fit.

“We want people to go to our leisure centres and have a jump on the trampoline or go climbing on the climbing frame. We’ve got to get people out there being active.”

Charges for swimming and health and fitness sessions will go up by 20p; saunas by 30p; squash, badminton, ice skating, outdoor tennis and football (per player) by 50p; and indoor tennis by £1.50p.

The pound-a-swim policy for the under-16s and over-60s will continue.

A report to the Town Hall executive argued that council leisure centres face stiff opposition from “competitively priced” private gyms. Users could “go private” if steep increases were imposed – resulting in a loss to the council, the report warned.